
Snoring Bay & Sucia
Island Marine Park - San Juan Islands Washington
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Sucia Island's Snoring Bay has
2 mooring
Buoys |
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Talk
Of The Town
Sucia
Island's much talked about Snoring Bay, is a sleepy little cove tucked in-between
Fossil Bay and Echo bay. Snoring bay has become a favorite destination amongst
those seeking a more intimate anchorage. Having only two mooring
buoys, you won't find many larger motor yachts and sailboats here at one time, but
this unique little
cove is very popular with kayakers and small boats on
weekends and holidays so don't assume there's going to be a buoy sitting there
waiting for your arrival. The
idea of visiting a tiny secluded island cove may sound romantic or adventurous, but
snoring bay really does live up to its name. There really isn't all
that much there to see or do but then that is actually the attraction for those
that seek it out, however, once you're on shore you can
explore the main trails that lead to the other parts of Sucia
island. A Family with small children might
enjoy beachcombing in the shallow waters of Snoring bay during low
tide, but the fact that it's so shallow near the shore makes
landing an inflatable dingy somewhat difficult.
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Once
you navigate your way through patches of eel grass you then have to wade a
few hundred feet through 8-16 inches of water, all the while watching out
for snags, old crab pots, sharp shells, as well as angry crabs.
Wading through the shallow water not knowing
what you're going to step on next can be fun, unless you're with a
friend or spouse that believes stepping on a crab will mean certain
death--- If you have one of these people in your life, you might want to wait for high tide before you go ashore.
You will also want to keep in mind that beaching your dinghy while the tide is going out could
leave you high and dry, forcing you to carry your boat over sharp rocks and
shells to launch it in deeper water.  Pay
Station
Once ashore you'll find a handy pay station off to the right,
and a weathered
picnic table in the middle with a great view of both snoring cove and mud
bay. In fact, if it weren't for the bank of pebbles making up a
small ridge, snoring bay would be a continuation of mud bay. There
are trailheads at both sides of the beach with one going over a ridge towards
fossil bay and the other circling around mud bay and joining up with trails to
the rest of the island. This
small cove may be more isolated and less visited than the other Sucia Island
anchorages but the numerous mosquitoes and insects that reside here help to
ensure that it's never boring.
How
It Got Its Name?
With only two buoys and a small beach, you might
think this tiny cove got its name due to the fact that its a sleepy or boring
place to moor your boat, but Snoring Bay was actually named after a park ranger
was
caught sleeping on the job there years ago, or so the story goes.
He never thought he'd be caught snoozing in such an out of the way place,
but even though Sucia Island has many out of the way places that seem very
private, no place on the island is ever very far from a trail, campsite, or
anchorage.
 View
Of Mud Bay From Snoring Bay
A.
Behind this grouping of trees is the popular floating dock in fossil bay. B.
Stone structure from the water system and dock I believe were part of the quarry
operation that once provided sandstone for Seattle. The quarry was closed
when the stone was determined to be too soft. C. Ranger's station
/ Maintenance Buildings. A very simple cabin with what looks to be an
outhouse out back and a barn. MUD BAY
Mud bay is one of the more historic
locations on Sucia Island but not one of the most beautiful. If you're
looking for a small cove experience I would suggest you go to Matia island which
is only a few
miles away due east. I enjoyed my visit to Snoring bay
because I like to explore new places and I want to see all there is to see in
the San Juan islands but Snoring bay isn't my favorite place. I can see why that
Ranger fell asleep here. I just hope he was wearing plenty of bug spray
before he passed out.
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The photo to the left is a glamour shot of mud
bay at high tide. You can see the ridge between mud bay and snoring
bay in the background. At low tide the bay is completely empty. |
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